Albert-László Barabási, physicist and network scientist, has discovered that the key to success lies in a simple formula that translates to a mix of finding your talent and sticking with it, trying new things in that field.
In an excerpt from his book, “The Formula: The Universal Laws of Success,” Barabási defines success, symbolized by “S”, as the product of the quality of a random idea, “r,” with the creator’s ability of bringing it to life, which Barabási calls the “Q-factor”. Written as a formula, it is: S=Qr.
Barabási explains that the Q-factor doesn’t seem to change over the years, no matter the experience and age. He also suggests that repeated struggles in a field might mean a lack of talent in it, noting, “If our Q-factor isn’t resonating with our job, we should consider if we’ve pinned our hopes on the wrong career path.”
The physicist found that once the creator finds the talent they excel in, all they need to do is keep working at it and never give up. He explains, “The key to long-term success from a creator’s perspective is straightforward: let the qualities that give you your Q-factor do their job by giving them a chance to deliver success over and over.”
